Presidential debate: Sparks, slips and safe blows as candidates size each other up
Presidential candidates: Independent candidate Catherine Connolly, Fianna Fail candidate Jim Gavin, and Fine Gael's candidate Heather Humphreys, prior to the start of the first presidential debate on The Tonight Show. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire
With Jim Gavin in the race, expect tortured sporting adages and clichés in this presidential campaign.
And let this writer add another.
There’s an old saying: you can’t win a league in the first few games, but you can lose it.
On Monday night, as Mr Gavin, Catherine Connolly and Heather Humphreys trekked out to Ballymount to debate one another — or, in most cases, debate host Kieran Cuddihy — it seemed like that notion was on many minds.
With polling still more than three weeks away, each candidate appeared to believe there was no point winding up for a haymaker when a smart, methodical boxing match would ultimately go to the judges.
In truth, the event felt less like a make-or-break political showdown than a sparring session: real enough, but guarded and safe.
Part of that was due to the Tonight Show production team’s decision to seat the candidates. While understandable from a TV perspective — it allowed to use its existing studio setups — it made the spectacle feel more like a routine episode of the show than a major event. The lack of questions from the media on arrival or any bells and whistles undercut the show’s importance.
There were few chances for the candidates to engage in real cut and thrust, partly because Mr Cuddihy seemed more intent on questioning the candidates himself than facilitating a debate between them. Perhaps he sensed the trepidation, which was oddly most evident in Heather Humphreys, the most experienced media performer of the trio seeking to succeed Michael D Higgins.
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Ms Humphreys seemed to be struggling with a sore throat, which impacted her performance. At one point, she faded into the background for at least eight minutes while Mr Gavin and Ms Connolly went — not toe-to-toe, but as close as this tepid affair allowed.
For her part, Ms Connolly was on somewhat familiar turf. Ministers rarely appear on , but Ms Connolly often has as an opposition voice. Add to that her evident enjoyment of debate and the fact that both opponents are from government parties, and she had something of a head start.
She maintained it throughout, looking the most comfortable and composed. She landed what felt like the night’s only real blow when she challenged Mr Gavin on clumsy comments from his first day as a candidate, when he suggested the Israeli assault on Gaza had begun with “military goals.”
“Were they achieved when 20,000 were dead,” Ms Connolly asked, “or 30,000?”
As Mr Gavin struggled to contextualise the remarks he made to Sean Defoe, it highlighted just how new he is to all of this. As a debater and candidate, it’s still unclear where he wants to position himself.
To his credit, he spoke at length about the presidency, even though many questions focused on government policy and, at one bizarre point, whether Donald Trump deserves a Nobel Peace Prize.
The former Dublin boss is earnest but somewhat laboured, often seeming to mentally tick off prepared talking points. Still, he was far from a disaster. For a first attempt, his performance was stronger than many who came before him. He will hope to improve as debates and interviews continue. Crucially, he did not lose the race tonight — nor did his opponents win it.
As we head into October, Major League Baseball moves into its playoffs, where greatness is forged. There’s a difference between good players who light up ballparks from April to September and the greats who define October — the Reggie Jacksons of the world.
All three candidates will hope last night was their regular season, and that under the bright lights, they can make October their own.
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